Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has voiced support for the creation of a separate Croatian electoral district in Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying the move would help protect the political rights of Croats in the country.
Speaking after a meeting with Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina leader Dragan Čović in Mostar, Dodik said he would support any initiative aimed at strengthening the position of the Croatian people as a constituent group in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The only proper solution is a Croatian electoral district that would ensure the political visibility of Croats is preserved,” Dodik said.
During the press conference, Dodik also made a controversial statement about relations between the country’s ethnic and religious communities, saying, “We are Christians here under pressure from Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Dodik claimed that the constitutional status of both Croats and Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been weakened. He argued that Croats have been unfairly represented because of the way the Croatian member of the country’s three member Presidency has been elected in recent years.
The issue has been a long standing political dispute in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Critics of the current election system argue that Croat representatives can be elected with the support of larger Bosniak voting groups, while supporters of the existing system say it allows citizens to choose candidates regardless of ethnicity.
Željko Komšić has been elected four times as the Croat member of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, largely due to support from Bosniak voters. His Democratic Front party has nominated his adviser Slaven Kovačević as a potential successor, which has renewed debate over the country’s electoral rules.
Croats and Bosniaks elect their representatives to the Presidency from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Bosniak population is significantly larger than the Croat population. Čović has repeatedly called for changes to the election law to guarantee that Croats can choose their own representatives.
“We need full constitutional equality for the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, just as it is needed for Bosniaks and Serbs,” Čović said. He added that Croats should have legitimate representation in the state Presidency and national legislative bodies.
The discussion comes as the Croatian Parliament prepares to consider a draft resolution aimed at strengthening the political position of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal supports the creation of a Croatian electoral district and criticizes what supporters describe as the political outvoting of Croats during elections.
Dodik also addressed the future of the international High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He criticized the Peace Implementation Council, saying its role does not align with the Dayton Peace Agreement and accusing the group of contributing to political instability in the country.
A meeting of ambassadors from the Peace Implementation Council is expected to discuss the possible selection of a successor to current High Representative Christian Schmidt. Talks are being closely watched as the United States and European Union countries continue discussions over the future leadership of the international mission.
In the meantime, American diplomat Louis Crishock, who previously served as Deputy High Representative, has taken over as Acting High Representative.
